Gr 5-10-The stranger-than-fiction story of the rise and fall of one of America's most important literary figures. Kent picks up Poe's sad tale as the writer lay dying in a gutter in Baltimore. What follows is a chronological unraveling of the fabric of his tragic life to provide answers to the who, what, where, when, and why questions of persistent investigators. The biography includes material gleaned from primary-source documents and reference works with snippets from Poe's stories and poems. The writing is clear and interesting, with moments of colorful prose to captivate readers. The excellent use of footnotes and other bibliographic tools provides a skillful model for students. Information is easy to find, and black-and-white illustrations highlight important places, people, and objects.
